Bottle feeding mechanism



May 8, 1934. w. a. GLADFELTE'R BOTTLE FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 30.1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR May & M34. w. l. GLADFELTER BOTTLEFEEDING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 30. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTOR VTTORNEYSay 1934. w. x. GLADFELTER 1,957,534

BOTTLE FEEDING MECHANI SM Filed Dec. 30, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR20% BY L &T NEYS 62/ 2 May 8, 1934; w. 1. GLADFELTER BOTTLE FEEDINGMECHANISM Filed Dec. 30. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 2%; ATTOPatented May 8, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT? OFFICE BOTTLE FEEDINGMECHANISM Application December 30, 1930, Serial No. 505,511

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in feeding mechanism forpackaging apparatus and more particularly to feeding mechanism forsocalled soda machines.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide, in connectionwith a bottle dial, apparatus cooperating with the dial and a filledbottle for preventing the bottle from toppling over when it is placed bythe dial on a conveyor and, also, for serving as a gate to prevent thebottle from being moved forward on the conveyor until the bottle hasbeen properly positioned on the conveyor by the dial.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswhich illustrate, as an example, a preferred embodiment of the inventionand in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a bottle feeding mechanism embodying thepresent invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan showing a bottle being removed from aconveyor by the feeding mechanism, to be carried to filling position;

Figure 4 is a similar View showing the bottle approaching fillingposition;

Figure 5 is a similar view illustrating the release of a filled bottleon the conveyor;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 6-6of Fig. 1;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view on line 7-7 of Fig. 1;

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 2; and

Figure 9 is a similar section on line 9-9 of Fig. 2 showing a differentposition of the parts;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the gate mounting plate.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1 and2, there is illustrated a bottle feeding mechanism for use, for example,in a soda machine of the type shown and described in Huntley Patent No.1,709,577, April 16, 1929.

The mechanism is carried on a suitable base or support 28 and includes ahousing 30 extending vertically and within which is located a rotatabledrive shaft 32 which extends upwardly through a cylindrical post 34associated with suitable filling and capping mechanism. In Fig. 2, abottle 36 is illustrated in dotted lines in filling position, beinglocated and held stationary for the filling and capping operations onthe top face of a cylindrical plunger 38, normally in the position shownin Fig. 2 but yieldable downwardly against the action of coil spring 40.The top surface of the plunger 38 is aligned with the surface of thebottle-supporting table 42 fixed on the top of the housing 44 secured tobase 28. The bottle-supporting table 42 is provided in its upper facewith a depression 46 in which travels a bottle conveyor 50,

At the oncoming portion of the conveyor a bottle deflecting guide 52 isprovided to deflect the empty bottles successively from the conveyorinto the bottle recesses 54 of a bottle dial 56.

The bottle dial 56 is fast on the upper end of a vertical shaft 58 whichis rotatable in an upper bearing 60 mounted in the table 42. The lowerend of the shaft 58 is rotatably mounted in the cup portion 62 of arocking member 64 whose lower end, below the cup, is formed as acylindrical rock shaft 66. The rocking member 64 at the top of the cupportion is provided with a radially extending arm 68 having a verticalportion 70 cut away intermediate its ends to provide space for a pawl 72(Figs. 2, 8 and 9) mounted on a pin 74 carried by the vertical portion70. The 39 rocking member 64, in addition to the vertical portion 70,includes a curved arm 76 extending horizontally therefrom and pivotallysecured by a pin '78 to one end of a horizontal rocking rod 80. Theother end of the rod 80 is provided with a head 5 82 against which abutsa cup 84 urged against the head by a coil spring 86 surrounding the rodand bearing at its other end against a collar 88 fixed on the rod. Aspring 73 holds the pawl 72 to its work. 90 Means are provided formoving the rod 80 back L and forth substantially in the direction of itslength to cause pawl 72 to give a step by step rotary motion to aratchet 90 keyed on the vertical shaft 58. In the form shown, this meansincludes a lever arm 96 pivoted at 98 to a bracket 100 within the casing30. The other end of lever 96 is pivoted at 102 to the underside of thespring receiving cup 84. The lever 96 carries on its lower face a roller104 held to engagement with a 100 cam disc 106 by a spring 108 which hasone end attached to the lever 96 and its other end secured to a lug 110on the casing 30. The cam disc 106 is fast on the vertical shaft 32 androtates continuously with said shaft. Owing to the shape of the cam, therod 80 is moved back and forth continuously so that it takes alternatelythe position of Fig. 8 and the position of Fig. 9. This movement causespawl '72 to give the ratchet 90 a step by step rotary motion in thedirection of the arrow (Fig. 9), thus causing corresponding movement ofthe bottle dial 56. The bottles are filled while resting on theyieldable support 38.

Means are provided for preventing the ratchet 90 from having eitherforward or backward movement during the idle stroke of the pawl '72 and,as illustrated in Fig. 9, this means may conveniently include a pair ofoppositely extending pawls 114 and 116 pivotally mounted on fixedbrackets 118 and 120 respectively. These pawls are connected by a coilspring 122 under tension which holds both pawls in engagement with theratchet. It will be evident that the pawl 116 prevents any retrogrademotion of the ratchet 90 and the pawl 114 insures uniform angularmovement of the ratchet on each working stroke of the pawl 72 andremains in holding engagement v with the ratchet on the idle stroke ofpawl 72. Means are provided for disengaging the pawl 114 from theratchet 90 at the starting of the working stroke of pawl 72 and, asillustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, this means includes a radially extendingarm 126 on rocking member 64 which extends radially outwardly beyond theratchet 90 and has an upturned end 128 for engagement with the pawl 114when the pawl '72 reaches the end of its idle stroke and is about tocommence its working stroke. In this way, the pawl 114 is at the propermoment disengaged from the ratchet but is released by arm 126 when thepawl '12 starts its working stroke so that the pawl 114 again contactswith the ratchet and drops into the next depression. Its movement may belimited by contact of pawl tail piece 115 with an adjustable stop pin117.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1, bottles are delivered to the dial56 by conveyor travelling in the direction of the arrows, and aredeflected from the conveyor by the guide 52. A fixed guide rail 140prevents the bottles from being moved out of engagement with the dial.At the forward end of the guide rail 140 a movable guide a rail arm 142is pivoted on the supporting table 42 and is held normally in theposition of Fig. 1 by a spring 144 against which it may yield ifnecessary while a bottle is being seated in the pockets of the dial andis being moved off the conveyor.

Means may be provided to prevent the fillin apparatus from operating ifno bottle is present to be filled and this means may conveniently be thesame as or similar to the means shown for this purpose in Huntley PatentNo. 1,556,837, October 13, 1925. Thearm 148 of Fig. 1 herein correspondsto the arm 286 in Fig. 2 of said patent and is fast on a vertical rockshaft 150 controlling a clutch of the type, for example, described insaid patent. An oncoming bottle strikes the rock arm 148 thereby movingthe shaft 150 and causing the filling operation to be performed at theproper moment. If there is no bottle in the next oncoming pocket, thearm 148 and rock shaft 150 will not be operated and the fillingoperation will not take place. Thedi al 56 being operated from thevertical shaft 32 is timed with the filling operation. I When this hasbeen completed the dial moves forward another step and continues in thismanner to bring the filled and capped bottle back upon the conveyor 50.

In accordance with the present invention, means are provided forpreventing the filled bottle from toppling over as it is pushed onto theconveyor, for preventing its release upon the conveyor until it has beenproperly centered thereon. In the form shown (Figs. 1, 5'and '7) thismeans includes the positioning and releasing gate 160 pivotally mountedand actuated in'cooperati'on with dial.

the dial 56. The gate 160 has a vertical hub portion 162 and from thishub upper and lower parallel arms 164 and 166 extend horizontally forengagement with a bottle. The hub 162 is fixed on a vertical rock shaft168 which rocks in the downwardly extending sleeve bearing 170 of anadjustable plate 172. The plate 172 is provided with a pair of slots 174for the reception of securing bolts 1'76 by which the plate is fastenedto the bottle support 42. The forward end of the plate 1'72 is providedwith a raised boss 178 near one end of which is a vertical opening toreceive a pin 180 by which one end of the bottle guide 140 is secured tothe plate. Another opening is provided in the boss 173 for the receptionof shaft 168 which extends downwardly, as shown in Fig. 7, in the sleeve170 formed as a part of the plate and projecting through an opening 184in the bottle support 42. The hub 162 of the gate 160 rests upon the topof the sleeve 170 and has rocking movement thereon, as indicated inFigs. 1 and 5.

The invention provides means for rocking the gate 160 alternately intothe positions of Fig. 1 and Fig. 5 in timed relation to the movements ofthe bottle dial 56, and, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7, this means isillustrated as including an arm 188 fast on the bottom portion of shaft168 which projects downwardly beyond the bottom of sleeve 1'70. The arm188 is slotted to receive a pivot pin 190 by means or" which there ispivoted to the arm a threaded rod 192 which has adjustable threadedconnection with sleeve 194 interiorly shouldered for the reception of acoil spring 196, bearing at one end against a sleeve cap 198 and at itsother end against the flange 200 of an actuating link 202. The link 202is slotted for the reception of a lever 204 pivotally secured to thelink by a pin 206, the lever 204 being fast on the bottom projectingportion of shaft 66, as shown in Fig. 2. This connection preferablypermits the adjustment of lever 204 in angular relation to shaft 66 toprovide for the desired accurate timing relation of the operation of thebottle gate with respect to the bottle dial. Other adjustments may beeffected by varying the position of arm 188 on the shaft 168 and by thethreaded engagement of rod 192 with sleeve 194. The spring connectionillustrated in Fig. '7 provides for the positive opening of the gate andalso for the closing of the gate yieldably to prevent crushing of anybottle in the event of a jam. Referring to Fig. 1-, a guide plate 214,adjustably secured to bottle support 42, cooperates with the gate andbottle dial for starting the filled bottle (inclicated in dotted linesat 36 in Fig. 1) on the conveyor in proper relation thereto and instable equilibrium.

In operation, the vertical shaft 32 rotates continuously and by its cam,acting through lever 96 "and rod '80, causes step by step rotation ofthe ratchet 90 and consequently of the bottle dial to which the conveyor50 carries bottles to be filled and capped. By engagementof successivebottles in its pockets, the dial removes the bottles from the conveyorand slides them around the bottle support 42 between the dial and theguide rail 140 'in step by step movement to the filling and cappingstation 38 where'e'ach bottle is filled and capped during the pause inthe movement of the The filled and capped bottles are brought by step bystep movement of the bottle dial to the position of Fig. 1 at whichmoment the dial actuating mechanism has the position-shown in Fig. 8

and the gate 160 has the position of Fig. 1, preventing the bottle frombeing carried away by the conveyor. The bottle, however, is pushedagainst the gate by the conveyor 50 but is prevented by the gate frommoving out of its dial pocket. The gate is, therefore, in position tomaintain the bottle in the position of Fig. 1 at the moment of itsarrival there. During movement of the dial actuating mechanism from theposition of Fig. 9, the ratchet shaft 58 remains stationary, held bypawls 114 and 116, but arm 68 and shaft 66 are rocked by rod to move thegate actuating mechanism of Fig. '7 and cause the gate 160 to open.During the opening movement of the gate the conveyor 50 tends to carrythe bottle away and as the gate moves to the position of Fig. 5, thebottle is moved by the conveyor along the bottle engaging face of thegate and is held by the gate and the guide 214 until the gate has openedfar enough to reach the position of Fig. 5 and thus release the bottleto be carried away by the conveyor.

The mechanism described prevents the bottle from being carried away themoment it reaches the conveyor, guides the bottle to proper position onthe conveyor, steadies it thereon, holds it back sumciently to preventit from starting off too suddenly, and insures that it will be carriedaway by the conveyor in its proper predetermined position thereon.

What is claimed is:

1. Bottle handling apparatus including a conveyor, a bottle dial inbottle delivering relation thereto, a bottle releasing and positioningdevice associated with said conveyor and with said dial, for positioningon said conveyor while it is in motion a bottle delivered to saidconveyor by said dial, and means for moving said device toward and fromthe dial in synchronism with movements of the dial.

2. Bottle handling apparatus including a conveyor, a bottle dial inbottle delivering relation thereto, and a bottle steadying deviceassociated with said conveyor and said dial for positioning on saidconveyor a bottle delivered thereto by said dial, said device beingmovable substantially horizontally toward the dial into bottle retainingposition with respect to said dial and movable substantiallyhorizontally away from said dial into bottle releasing position.

3. Bottle handling apparatus including a conveyor, a bottle dial inbottle delivering relation thereto, and a movable bottle steadying gatemovable toward and from the dial in the direction of travel of theconveyor and cooperating with said dial during its placing of a bottleon said conveyor and operable thereafter to release and position thebottle on said conveyor.

4. Bottle handling apparatus including a conveyor, a bottle dial inbottle delivering relation thereto, actuating mechanism for giving saiddial a step by step rotary motion, and a bottle holding positionerassociated with said conveyor and said dial and actuated by saidmechanism between the step by step motions of said dial to release abottle from the dial and position it on the conveyor.

5. Bottle handling apparatus including a conveyor, a bottle dial inbottle delivering relation thereto, actuating mechanism for giving saiddial a step by step rotary motion, and a bottle gate cooperating withsaid dial, said gate being opened by said mechanism while said dial isstationary to release and position a bottle on said conveyor, and beingclosed by the dial moving operation of said mechanism.

6. Bottle handling apparatus including a conveyor, a bottle dial inbottle delivering relation thereto, actuating mechanism for giving saiddial a step by step rotary motion, and a pivoted gate overlying saidconveyor and cooperating with said dial, said gate being moved by saidmechanism away from said dial to open position while said dial isstationary to release and position a bottle on said conveyor and beingmoved toward said dial to closed position by dial moving operation ofsaid mechanism.

'7. Bottle handling apparatus including a conveyor, a bottle dial inbottle delivering relation thereto, actuating mechanism including amemher having forward and return movement for giving said dial a step bystep rotary motion, a bottle positioning device associated with saiddial and said conveyor and operatively connected with said member, saiddevice being moved by return movement of said member to release andposition a bottle on said conveyor, and moved by forward movement ofsaid member into bottle holding and steadying relation to said dial, anda holding element preventing forward movement of said dial during returnmovement of said member and moved out of dial holding position byforward movement of said member.

8. Bottle handling apparatus including a conveyor, a bottle dial inbottle delivering relation thereto, a rocking member for giving saiddial a step by step rotary motion, a gate actuating lever moved by saidrocking member, a gate shaft connected thereto, and means for retaininga bottle in the dial against the action of said conveyor, said meansbeing movable into bottle releasing and positioning relation withrespect to said conveyor and comprising a bottle gate associated withsaid dial and conveyor and mounted on said shaft.

9. Bottle handling apparatus including a conveyor, a bottle dial inbottle delivering relation thereto, a rocking member for giving saiddial a step by step rotary motion, a gate actuating lever moved by saidrocking member, a gate shaft, a rock arm thereon, elements yieldable inone direction connecting said rock arm and said gate actuating lever,and a bottle retaining and releasing gate associated with said dial andconveyor and mounted on said shaft.

WIL'I'IE I. GLADFELTER.

